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Grand A rmy of the Republic 

National 
MEMORIAL Hkhh 



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DECATUR, ILLINOIS. 

Tfi& BlUTfiPhACE or the Q, a. t\ 



1866 APRIL 6, 1891. 




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&RAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 




s Biruipiace and Glistening 



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Decatur, Macon County/Illinois, 



APRIL 6, A. D. 1866. 



CHARTER OF POST NO. 1 



DHCATUR, ILL.: 

HAMSHEK & MOfSHKK, PRINTERS 

1890, 



Mm 



APR 1 1816 



Reduced Fac-Simile of Charter Original Post No. 1 Copyright, 1890, by G. R. Steele. 








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A PROPOSITION TO ERECT A NATIONAL MEMO- 
RIAL HALL, G. A. R, AT THE BIRTHPLACE 
OF THE ORDER, DECATUR, ILL 



To the Commander in Chief, Officers, Delegates and Com- 
rades of the Twenty-fourth National Encampment Grand 
Army of the Republic, assembled, Boston, Mass. : 

We present you herewith copies of the first charter of 
a Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and some 
extracts from the minutes of the meetings of the Post, in 
order to call your attention to the necessities of the plan 
proposed by us for the perpetuation of the memory of an 
order which must soon become extinct. 

There are now in the possession of the first Post Adju- 
tant of the Grand Army a few sheets of paper loosely bound 
together containing the records of the first Post, four copies 
of the printed regulations of the organization, and iwo 
copies of the original ritual. On the sixth day of April, 
1866, the organization commenced with twelve men. It 
now numbers over four hundred thousand. It is possible 
that for a few years its strength may increase, but the inex- 
orable hand of death will soon be laid upon us all. We 
shall be summoned to that great encampment beyond the 
river. The bivouac of the dead will be our resting place, 



6 

and the Grand Army of the Republic will be a thing of the 
past — a half page in the history of these times; its aims and 
objects a legend; its purposes misrepresented by malignant 
foes of its influence upon posterity. There will be nothing 
erected by this greatest of organizations to teach the com- 
ing generations the objects of its existence, to inspire them 
with a patriotism fed by emulation of the heroism of the 
soldiers of the Union, as exemplified in monuments and 
memorial halls erected by them to perpetuate the achieve- 
ments of their valor. 

In twenty-five years the fifteen-year-old boy who 
enlisted in 18()4 will be a gray-haired man, bent over with 
the weight of sixty-seven years. In thirty years he will 
have passed the allotted years of the life of man. In twenty- 
five years a meeting of one Grand Army Post will be held 
once in three months, or once a year, at some central place 
in each State, and a few enfeebled men will meet to consult 
for the good of an order of which nothing will remain but a 
recollection of its glories. Those old men will have come 
down from past generations. 

In thirty years it will, indeed, be a grand and glorious 
sight, at a National Encampment, to see two or three old 
men from each State meet together to hear read only the 
lists of those Avho have been mustered out within one year. 

Let it be remembered that the ranks of the Grand Army 
of the Republic can never be recruited. No one can enter 
this order who has not been a soldier of the Union. No 
one else ought ever to be allowed to enter it. If others do, 
the grandeur of the Grand Army is gone. When it ceases 



to be the Grand Army it becomes simply as any other secret 
order. 

The question is, what shall the Grand Army of the 
Republic, now in the full meridian of its glory, do to per- 
petuate the history of its organization, to preserve the 
records of its Posts, Departments and Encampments, to col- 
lect its mementoes, and make sure that in all future time 
they shall be ready for the inspection of the historian, and 
exemplars to the youth of this Nation of the patriotism of 
generations gone by? 

States, as such, can have no interest in these recdrds 
and mementoes, for they are the property of an order of 
men, once heroes, it is true, but now merely citizens. The 
National Government cannot preserve them because it would 
arouse the hostilities of those who fear to perpetuate the 
memories of the war. Unfortunately, too, there are States 
to whose rulers such things would be unpleasant, while 
from their very boundaries came legions of heroes who 
offered their lives and shed their blood that a Republic 
might be maintained and universal liberty in the United 
States be accomplished. 

There is nothing left, therefore, for the Grand Army of 
the Republic but to establish for itself a Temple of Patriot- 
ism, a storehouse of records and mementoes and curiosities, 
a monument to its patriotism, a museum or school of loyalty. 
To this the aged soldier may send his trophies, his arms, 
his records, with the certainty that they will be carefully 
preserved. To this may be committed the banners and flags 
that the State and Nation cannot obtain; to this the records 



of the various posts, as they fall out of line by death of 
members, may be committed for the use of survivors and 
the instruction of mankind. Into it would be finally gath- 
ered all those precious relics of a great conflict, and all that 
valuable and historic property which in each present Post 
we hold so dear. To this place the aged veteran may make 
a pilgrimage and feast his eyes again upon the flag he fol- 
lowed, the canteen from which he drank, the musket, per- 
chauce, by which he dealt death to his country's foes. Or, 
if the fortune of war preserved none of these for him, he 
may yet gather his children about him, and, repairing to 
this place, made sacred by the memories of the dark days of 
the Republic, refresh his loyalty and teach his descend- 
ants the best lessons of patriotism. 

To this place, when we are all gone, the generations to 
come may repair, and learn lessons of heroism, of fraternity, 
charity and loyalty from the treasures gathered there. 

The necessity of such a place is now self-evident. 
What shall it be in fact? 

As grand as the order which erected it; as large as the 
wisdom of living soldiers shall dictate; as enduring as the 
everlasting hills; and, by a wise system of finance, by a 
liberal system of endowment, made perpetually self-sustain- 
ing, in the care of loving hands. Its best description ought 
to be: It is in every respect worthy of the Soldiers of the 
Union whom it commemorates, and of the organization, the 
most powerful on earth, which erected it. 



9 

Where should it be? 

In the center of the region from whence came the loyal 
soldiers, easy of access by rail, within the shortest possible 
distance of every Grand Army Post, and at the birthplace 
of the order. 

HOW SHOULD IT BE ERECTED? 

By contributions made by the soldiers of the Union. 
These funds should be placed in the hands of trustees 
appointed by the National Encampment, and expended by 
them as the wisdom of the order shall direct. There 
should be enough contributions within a few years, not only 
to erect the building, but to endow it so that there should 
be a fund forever hereafter for its maintenance. It should 
be under the control of a corporation, of which the directors 
should be members of the Grand Army as long as any may 
live who can serve. After that it should be controlled by 
the Sons of Veterans and successors whom they may select. 

A contribution of twenty-five or fifty cents a year, for 
three or four years, from each member of the Grand Army, 
would be grandly sufficient. If the annual dues of each 
member were increased by that sum, by order of this 
Encampment, for three or four years, and this increase paid 
into the hands of the persons designated by the order, the 
building would be erected, the plan put in operation, the 
endowment made permanent, without any soldier being con- 
scious of the burden imposed upon him. It could be done 
so quickly that every soldier of the Union could pay it a 
visit before his death, and deposit with its custodians the 



10 

relics of the war which lie desired preserved, and thus it 
would always be a place where the loyal, loving souls of the 
soldier's friends could find objects of interest and reverence. 

We have no plans to enforce, no pet theories to explain or 
maintain, no selfish interests to subserve, no real estate to 
boom ; but we simply desire the best welfare of the order 
and are speaking for its good. We know, too, that in a 
feeble way these sentiments are but an echo of many a loyal 
heart all over this country, and that the general idea of a 
plan such as we propose has long been in the minds of many 
men who have the best interest of the order at heart. 

Decatur is entitled to be the location of such an insti- 
tion. Lincoln did not live here, but here he split the rails 
which gave him the homely name we all love. Grant's regi- 
ment was formed and mustered here. Here the first Grand 
Army Post was formed; here its ritual was written; here its 
appropriate name was bestowed, and here the idea of this 
Memorial Hall originated. From this community went as 
many brave soldiers as from any other, and here to-day as 
many reside as elsewhere. The city has increased more 
than five hundred per cent, in population since the close of 
the war. It has to-day almost twenty thousand population. 
Its streets are paved. Electric street railways hasten the 
travel of its citizens. It has every convenience and comfort 
of modern life, and it is noted, not only for being abreast, 
but far ahead of the times. Trunk line railways lead from 
it in twelve different directions. It is in the heart of the 
best country on earth. Its people are loyal and liberty- 



11 

loving and must ever so remain. There is nothing lacking 
to make this the Mecca of the soldiers of the Republic 
except the good will of the Grand Army of the Republic and 
its approval and control of the plan proposed. This we 
hereby invoke. 



HISTORY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE G. A. R. 
AND POST NO. 1. 



In this age of history-making and history-writing it is 
fitting that the data relating to the organization of the 
Guand Army of the Republic should be in hand, properly 
authenticated, while we have the living witnesses. Events, 
as they are being evolved, impress not their importance as 
historic facts on the actors, hence valuable data, at the time, 
are cast aside as waste or rubbish, to be delved for by after 
generations in the. it may be vain, effort to secure treasured 
lore or to solve problems that time has rendered important. 
The old soldier, mustered out at the close of the war, cast 
aside his trappings and was soon merged in the general cit- 
izenship of a great country. He thought but little of the 
years of service, and scarcely dreamed that he was a hero. 
It is only when the rising generations, yearning for infor- 
mation, called for the oft-repeated story of camp life, the 
march and battle, and compilers and periodicals ask from 
the surviving actors the real facts, that the old soldier seeks 
to recall the facts and proofs so long slumbering. 



12 

So the men who founded the G. A. R. knew not how 
they builded. Little did they realize theirs was an inspira- 
tion and they the agents in divine hands to establish the 
grandest brotherhood and school of patriotism the world 
ever knew. 

In viewing its grandeur there arises the query: "Who 
were its founders and where its birthplace and christening?" 
It is conceded and officially recognized that at 

DECATUK, ILLINOIS, 

THE G. A. R, HAD ITS BlRTH AND CHRISTENING, 

Atril Gth, 1866. 
Cast aside as of seeming little value, the old records 
were but in part recovered after protracted search, and from 
them and survivors of the charter members of old Post No. 1 
we gather the facts that will pass into history. 

To Major B. F. Stephenson, then resident at Spring- 
field, Illinois, is justly conceded the honor of conceiving the 
organization. From his fertile brain sprung many of the 
details in the work of the order. While others approved, it 
was only at Decatur, Illinois, he could find congenial spirits 
Avilling to formulate and put in practical shape the grand 
undertaking. 

Early in the spring of 1866, at the request of comrades 
J. W. Routh and M. F. Kanan, Maj. Stephenson visited 
Decatur with his manuscript plans of organization, briefs 
for ritual, &c, all in crude form, and placed them in the 
hands of Dr. J. W. Routh, Capt. J. T. Bishop, Capt. M. F. 



13 

Kanan, Maj. Geo. K. Steele and Capt. George H. Dunning, 
who formulated the original constitution, regulations and 
ritual of the order. I. N. Coltrin and Joseph Prior, sol- 
diers and skilled printers, were duly obligated, and to them 
was intrusted the printing of the several documents. 

To this committee is due the honor of christening the 
order as the "Grand Army of the Republic. 1 ' 

On April 6th, 18(36, the first encampment of the G. A. 
E. was formed at Decatur, Ills., the charter members of the 
encampment being Capt. M. F. Kanan, Maj. Geo. R. Steele, 
Capt. George H. Dunning, Gen. I. C. Pugh, Col. J. H. Nale, 
Capt. J. T. Bishop, Capt. C. Reibsame, Dr. J. W. Routh, 
Dr. B. F. Sibley, Lieut. I. N. Coltrin, Lieut. Joseph Prior 
and Capt. A. Toland. They were mustered in and to them 
were the obligations prescribed in the ritual administered 
by Maj. B. F. Stephenson, commanding Department of 
Illinois. 

Here was the first muster; here the first work under 
the ritual; here the first fruition of an inspiration that now 
voices its principles of patriotism and fraternity through 
near 7,000 posts and over 400,000 comrades. 

We present herewith copies of the charter, minutes of 
the first encampment, with copies of General Orders Nos. 1 
and 2, issued by comrade Commander B. F. Stephenson, the 
Senior Department Commander of the United States. 

Of this galaxy of noble comrades, Stephenson, Pugh, 
Routh, Prior, Nale, Dunning and Toland have passed from 
the Post below to the eternal encampment above. 



14 

Of the surviving charter members, Capt. M. F. Kanan, 
Senior Post Commander, is serving his third term as mayor 
of the city of Decatur; Major George R. Steele, Senior Post 
Adjutant, is treasurer of Macon County, Illinois; Capt. J. 
T. Bishop, Senior O. G., is comptroller of the city of Brad- 
ford, Penn. ; Capt. C. Reibsame, Senior O. D., is a whole- 
sale liquor dealer in Bloomington, Ills. ; Dr. B. F. Sibley is 
a practicing physician, and Lieut. I. N. Coltrin an expert 
printer at Decatur, Ills. 

On April 23d, 1866, comrades J. T. Bishop, G. H. Dun- 
ning, W. J. Usrey, B. F. Sibley and C. C. Glass were 
appointed by Post No. 1 a committee to revise the Ritual 
and Regulations. On May 1st, 1866, the committee on revi- 
sion submitted to the Post their work and were ordered to 
send same to Headquarters Department of Illinois, at 
Spring held, for approval. 

On May 9th, 1866, the committee on revision reported 
the acceptance by Headquarters of the Revised Ritual and 
Regulations submitted. 

The Revised Ritual, entitled "Proceedings of Enlist- 
ment and Muster, Grand Army of the Republic," was printed 
at Springfield, Ills., in May, 1866. 

Eighty comrades were mustered into Post. No. 1 dur- 
ing 1866. Owing to loss of records a complete roster sub- 
sequent to 1866 cannot now be had. 

To the surviving comrades of Post No. 1 it is gratify- 
ing that the work inaugurated April 6th, 1866, has become 



15 

national, its principles the inspiration of the living present, 
and which will linger as a benediction when the closing- cer- 
emonies of the last earthly encampment shall have been 
said. 

To Decatur it is cause for pride that the Grand Army 
of the Republic had here its birth and christening 

To aid the National Encampment and comrades to 
intelligently decide on the location of the proposed Memo- 
rial Hall, we submit a map showing Decatur's railroad facil- 
ities, with mileage to various leading cities. 

Of the < 5,778 G. A. R. Posts in the United States, over 
4,200 are within five hundred miles of Decatur, with a mem- 
bership of over 200,000. 

One-half of the population of the United States reside 
within 500 miles of this, the birthplace of our order. 

On April 6th, 1891, the State Encampment of Illinois 
will convene at Decatur to celebrate the silver anniversary 
of the birth of the G. A. R., at which time we hope to lay 
the corner stone of our National Memorial Hall. Let it be a 
national event, and the comrades of the Union are bidden to 
the feast. 

To this sacred shrine let the Commander in Chief bid 
the comrades assemble, where we may pledge ourselves anew 
to that fraternity of feeling which binds us together as com- 
rades, that charity which prompts us to the noblest sacri- 
fices for the needy and destitute wards of our grand army, 



16 

and that loyalty which binds us to a faithful performance of 
our duties as citizens, and to an undying vigilance which is 
the price of liberty. 

Submitted in Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty. 

John A. Barnes, Chairman. 

George R. Steele, Secretary. 

M. F. Kanan, 

K. Harwood, 

J. M. Clokf.v, 

W. C. Johns, 

N. Pringle, 

H. F. May, 

Gov. E. J. Oglesby, 

W. F. Calhoun, 

C. M. Imboben, 

F. L. Hays, 

F. M. Young, 

R. P. Lytle, 

R. J. ROBERTS. 

C. H. Fuller, 
National Memorial Hall Committee. 



MINUTES OF FIRST ENCAMPMENT POST NO. 1. 



Assembly 1. 
At an informal meeting held April 6th, L866, for the 
purpose of organizing an encampment of the G. A. R., the 
following named persons were mustered by Major B. F. Ste- 
phenson, and constituted charter members: 

I. C. Pugh, J. H. Nale, M. F. Kanan, 

G. E, Steele, J. T. Bishop, C. Reibsame, 

J. W. Kouth, G. H. Dunning, I. N. Coltrin, 

Jo. Prior, B. F. Sibley, Aquilla Toland. 

When, upon motion, the encampment entered into an 
election of officers, with the following result: 
OFFICERS FOR THE DISTRICT. 

Brig. Gen. I. C. Pugh, Commandant of District. 
Lieut. Col. J. H. Nale, Dist. Q. M. 
Doct. J. W. Routh, Dist. A.ljt. 

OFFICERS FOR THE POST. 

M. F. Kanan, P. C. Chris. Reibsame, ( >. I >. 

G. R. Steele, P. A. J. T. Bishop, 0. G. 

G. H. Dunning, P. Q. fti J. \V. Routh, P. Surg. 

All of whom were duly mustered by Maj. Stephenson, 
who then declared the encampmenl duly organized and 
ready for the transact ion of any and all business which 



18 

might come before it, and assigned it the post of honor as 
Decatur Encampment No. 1. 

On motion, a committee of two was appointed to pro- 
cure a suitable room for the Encampment and report at next 
regular meeting. Capts. Kanan and Dunning, committee. 

On motion, Tuesday was decided upon as the night for 
regular meetings. 

On motion, adjourned to meet April 10th, 1866. 

M. F. Kanan, P. C. 
G. R. Steele, P. A. 



19 



GENERAL ORDERS. 



General Order No. 1. 

HEADQUABTEES DEPABTMENT OF ILLINOIS, 
GEAND AEMY OF THE EEPUBLIC. 

Adjutant General's Office, } 
Springfield, Ills., April 1st, L866. \ 

The following named officers are hereby announced on 

duty at these headquarters: 

Col. Jules C. Webber, A. D. G. and Chief of Staff. 

Col. Jno. M. Snyder. Q. M. General. 

Maj. Eobert M. Woods, Adjt. Gen'l, (P. 0. Box 84). 

Capt. Jno. A. Lightfoot, A. A. G. 

Lieut. J. S. Phelps, A. D. C. 

By order of B. F. STEPHENSON, 

Commanding Department. 
Official: 

Eobert M. AVoods, Adj. Gen'l. 



General Ordek No. 'J. 

H'DQ'ES DEFT. ILLS., G. A II 

Adjitant (Ii mi; vi/s ( >i i u i . ) 
Springfield, Ills.. Ma\ 1st. L866. J 

I. For the purpose of the further organization of this 

army the following officers will be appointed under Section 






20 

( .» of Article 3 of the Constitution, and their names reported 
to these headquarters, viz. : Assistant Post Commander, 
Post Surgeon, Post Chaplain, Officer of the Day, Officer of 
the Guard. 

II. The duties of Assistant Post Commander are those 
of a Vice President. 

III. It will be the duty of the Post Surgeon to exam- 
ine and report on all cases presented for charity and assis- 
tance from the Post. 

IV. The Post Chaplain will be present at all assem- 
blies of the command and officiate in the proper duti< s of 
his office. 

By order of 13. F. Stephenson, 

Official: Commanding Department. 

Robert M. Woods, 
Adjutant General 



ENDORSEMENT BY OFFICERS AND COUNCIL OF 
ADMINISTRATION, DEPT. OF ILLINOIS. 



HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS, 
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. 

Office of Department Commander, / 
Quincy, 111., July 23, L890. , 

Capt John A. Barnes, Chairman National Memorial Hall 
Committee, Decatur, III.: 
Dear Sir and Comrade: — Having reviewed and care- 
fully considered your manuscript presenting the project of a 
National Memorial Hall at Decatur. 111., in honor of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, I take pleasure in extending 
my hearty endorsement of the project, plans and methods 
suggested. The desirability of such a temple of patriotism 
and its influence in perpetuating the memory and teachings 
of this, the grandest of all fraternal and patriotic organiza- 
tions, grows on me. Such a temple would stand as an 
inspiration to succeeding generations and should receive the 
cordial endorsement of the 24th National Encampment and 
every comrade of the G. A. R. 

Yours fraternally. 

WM. L. D1ST1N. 

Dep't ( lommander. 



22 

To the Delegates Assembled of the 24th National Encamp- 
ment of the G. A. R.: 

We cordially favor, approve of and endorse the pro- 
posed plan for the erection of a National Memorial Hall in 
Decatur, 111., to be dedicated and secured to the use and 
occupancy of the members of the Grand Army of the Re- 
public throughout the Union. 

We invoke your careful consideration and hope for 
yor generous approval and support. 

J. F. Harrall, S. V. D. C. 

N. B. Thistlewood, J. V. D. C. 

Josiah Moore, Chaplain. 

P. L. McKinnie, M. D. 

O. F. Avery, C. of A. 

Wm. Clendenin, C. of A. 

Wm. Venable, C. of A. 

W. W. Bean, C. of A. 

A. D. Beade, A. A. G. 

Thos. W. Scott, A. Q. G. 

Fred W. Srink, Inspector. 

S. G. Burdick, C. M. O. 

Jas. J. Healy, A. D. C. & C. of S. 




DISTANCES FROM DECATUR, 



Chicago, 


174 


St. Louis. 


108 


Detroit, 


- 370 


Kansas City, 


- 339 


Toledo, 


323 


Hannibal, 


140 


Indianapolis, 


- 153 


Quincy, 


- 151 


Columbus, 


327 


Keokuk, 


1 5 1 


Cincinnati, 


- 262 


Burlington, 


- 173 


Louisville, 


263 


Dubuque, 


2-*") 2 


Evansville, 


- 170 


St. Paul, - 


- 551 


Nashville, 


325 


Omaha, 


470 


Cairo, 


- 20 1 


Council Bluffs, - 


- 170 


New Orleans, 


7~>5 


M inneapolis, 


558 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



012 028 465 4 




m\ 



